Rita's club raises the profile of volunteers
When her search for a local gardening club ended in disappointment, Rita Hunt decided to start her own. With funding from the Kent Community Foundation to cover the cost of a meeting place for a year, publicity and set-up costs, the club was formed in 2007. Four years later they have 80 members and cater for gardeners from all walks of life.
In addition to a busy programme of shows and speakers, the group funds and supports 11 after-school gardening clubs at local infant and junior schools.
Some enthusiastic members have also lent their support to local improvement projects, such as the rejuvenation of the church flowerbeds and the maintenance of Rede Common, a site of horticultural and environmental interest.
In 2010, the Rede Common group took up the challenge to create ‘The Strood Community Trail’ with funding from The Valley of Visions Landscape Partnership Scheme and Heritage Lottery Fund. Connecting existing footpaths, open spaces and heritage sites, the trail extends for five miles through Strood’s most charming neighbourhoods.
Entering this year’s It’s Your Neighbourhood campaign Rita hopes to raise the profile of the voluntary work that is taking place in Strood. “All our projects are aimed at the local community, trying to bring people together, to improve pride in our environment, while at the same time promoting gardening and our wonderful open spaces and wider countryside,” she says.